Photo: Dutch Photo Agency
Valerio Rinicella will remain with MP Motorsport to make the step up from Spanish Formula 4 to the Formula Regional European Championship next year.
A student of Giancarlo Fisichella’s Top Gun by Pro Racing project, Rome-born Rinicella made the move into cars with MP in 2022 in a part-campaign in F4 United Arab Emirates ahead of a full season in the Spanish championship.
After placing sixth in the Spanish F4 standings in 2022, he returned to F4 UAE at the beginning of 2023 and finished fourth in the points before finishing third in his sophomore season in Spain where he took two race victories.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be staying with MP for my debut season in FREC,” said Rinicella. “It’s a great new challenge in Europe’s most competitive series at Formula Regional level, and I am certain that staying in a trusted environment will ease the transition.
“It will help me to focus on the car and the job ahead and no doubt shorten my learning curve ahead of the 10-round season. It’s going to be a long and tough year on some of the most exciting circuits in Europe, so I can’t wait to get started.”
Rinicella is MP’s first announced signing for the 2024 FREC season.
“In the past two seasons Valerio has become a valued member of our Spanish F4 line-up,” said team principal Sander Dorsman.
“In fact, he proved to be our team leader in the 2023 title race, in which he challenged for victories throughout and bagged a few wins of his own as well. We feel that he is more than ready to graduate to FREC, and look forward to helping him perform in his rookie season in this highly competitive championship.”